Flushing apparatus.



.W. BARNETT.

FLUSHING APPARATUS.

AAPLICATION FILED DEC- 2, 1914.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. INVENTOR.

W. BARNETT.

FLUSHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED ozc.2, 1914.

1 149 887. Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- l ORIYEYS. gi

WADE BARNETT, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

FLUSHING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented A u": 10, 1915.

Application filed December 2. 1914. Serial No. 875,153.

tion 01 the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apper-' tains to make and use the same. The present invention relates to flushing apparatus and consists more pzn'ticularly in an improved and substantial apparatus for flushing closet bowls, which is designed to replace the open-cistern systems containing ball-iioat-actuated valves now commonly employed.

An object of the present invention resides in providing an improved flushing appa ratus wherein the delivery of the water from the cistern or reservoir will be under the control of either the pressure in the service system, 0' a device normally balanced by the service'and reservoir pressures, and aranged to have its balance destroyed when the reservoir empties.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flushing apparatus of the above character Which will include an arrangement for insuring the filling of the bowl after the flushing operation has been efi'ected.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference symbols indicate like parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a cistern or reservoir, illustrating one form of an apparatus constituted in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the same taken at right angles to Fi 1; Fi 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the pressurc-controlled latch device; Fig. 4 is a similar view oi a modified form of latch device; Fi 5 is an elevational view of a system embodying a second form of apparatus of which the invention is susceptible; Fig. (3 illustrates in elevation a substantially similar system disclosing the connection to a closet bowl; Fig. 7 is a v'ertical sectional view of a latching device as employed in conjunction with the apparati shown in Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 8 is a similar view disclosing a slightly modified form of device; Fig. 9 is a. fragmentary elevational view of the delivery pipe illustrating a filling reservoir connected thereto; and Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same illustrating, a modified form of filling reservoir.

Referring more particularly to Figs. l t of the drawings, 1 designates an inclosed cistern or reservoir in open connnimication with a source of fluid supply through a connection 2, and connected to a closet bowl by means of a delivery pipe 3 of relatively large diameter.

The delivery pipe 3 is under the control of a self-closing valve l of any suitable type, on the stem of which is mounted a quadrant or other device 5 to which is attached a chain 6 for actuating the quadrant to open the valve when it is desired to flush the bowl. The quadrant 5 normally occupies the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, when the valve 4 is closed; and may be drawn down by the chain (3 to the full- 'line position to open the valve and permit the water in the cistern 1 to flow out through. the delivery pipe 3 and flush the closet bowl.

In order to insure the delivery of a predetermined quantity of water to the closet bowl for properly effecting the flushing; operation, there is provided a device for preventing the automatic closing of the valve 4 immediately upon the release of the chain (3 and for holding said valve open a predetermined lcngth of time, dependent upon the pr ssure in the cistern 1. This device is shown more particularly in Fig. 3 to consist of a casing body 7, enlarged and dished at its upper end and coiiperatins with an enlarged and dished cap' 8 to constitute chamber fo' a diaphragm 9, secured along its peripheral edge between said body and cap. The diaphragm 9 is connected to the upper end of a latch plunger 10 mounted to reciprocate through a stuiling box 11 formed in the casing body 7, and through a guide bearing, 12 supported from arms 13 joined at their opposite ends by a. ring it threaded on the casing body.

As advantageously disclosed in Fig. 1, the device is arranged to be connected to the bottom of the cistern 1 to one side of the delivery pipe 3. and is in communication with the cistern through a perforation '15 in the cap 8, whereby the pressure in the cistern is utilized to act on the upper face of the diaphragm l and tend to force the latch plunger down. The lower free end of the latch plunger is beveled, as indicated at 16, to permit the quadrant to ride thereover when moved to open the valve 4; and the end of the latch plunger is adapted to drop into a notch formed in the quadrant .when the same is drawn down or to drop behind the same as shown retl iru The up per in Fig. l, and effectually prevent the of the valve to closed position.

action of the cistern pressure on the surface of the diaphragm 5) is arranged to be counteracted by a coil spring 17 encircling the latch plunger 10, and conlined between the guide bearing 12 and a iiicdiiie l. le\'ice is here shown to dispense with the diaphragm 9 and to substitute therefora piston 19 connected to the latch plunger and reciprocating in a cylinder 20. In all other substantial details the device is the same as that shown in Fig. 3 and the operation similar.

The operation of the apparatus is as'follows: l'Vater flows in through the connection 2 and fills the cistern 1, compressing the entropped air therein above the water until the pressure of the latter becomes equal to and balances the supply pressure. The apparatusiis now in readiness for action and when desired the chain or other connection (3 may be pulled to revolve the quadrant 5 from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to the full-line position therein shown, which action operates to open the valve 4 and permit the waterto discharge through the delivery pipe 3 whereby the water is conducted to the bowl. When the quadrant is so actuated the latch plungerlO, under the influence of the diaphragm 9, drops down, as above described, and prevents the valve 4 from closing by its automatic actionv and the chain may be immediately released. The latch plunger 10 is maintained in'engagement with the quadrant 5 by the cistern pressure exerted on the diaphragm 9 or piston 19, as the case may be, and consequentlywlien the same falls belowa predetermined degree the springl'l' is arranged to come into play and raise the plunger out of-the path of the quadrant. The valve-4: will thereby be permitted to close and my have-any suitable dampening means associated therewith, if found necessary or desirable, to cause the valve to close slowly and iiisurethe delivery of an amount In the constructions illustrated in Figs. 3 and -l the diaphragm casing body 7 and the cylinder, respectively, are provided with openings 21, which, as shown in Figs. 1' and 2, are connected by-a pipe 22 for conveying off any water that may leak around the diaphragm and piston and conducting same to the delivery pipe Referring more particularly to Figs. to S, inclusive, a modified structure is here shown, operated by the direct action of the supply pressure, which latter is normally balanced by the cistern or reservoir pressure and permitted to act only when the latter falls below a predetermined degree.

In this system, as in that first described, is comprised a cistern or storage pipe .or

.reservoir 23, which may be located within the wall of the room where installed, and which is connected vith the closet 'bowl 24 by a delivery pipe 25. The connection 26 from the supply source is not, in this instance, coupled directly'with the storage reservoir 23-), but through a pipe 27 of relatively small diameter and consequent great frictional resistance; The self-closing valve 28, quadrant 2!) and chain 30 are similar in construction and operation to the corre' sponding parts shown and described in connection with the first form of the apparatus.

The valve releasing device is, however, of slightly different construction, one form of which is shown in Fig. 7 and comprises a casing body 31 formed with an enlarged and dished. upper end and with an enlarged and dished lower end of relatively greater diameter for, cooperating with dished caps 32 and 3 -1, .resiectively, to provide a pair of chambers of unequal size. In the chambers are secured diaphragms zi-l and 35, connected each to the common latch plunger 36,- the latter being mounted to reciprocate in the body 31 and constantly acted on by a' sp'ing 37 to move the plunger upwardly.

The casing body 31 is constructed with nipples 38 and 39 for connection by pipes 40 and 41 in communication, respectively, with the supply source 26'. and the delivery pipe 25, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. v

The caps 32 and 33 are respectively pros,

ided-With perforations 42 and 43 .tqg re .i 'e vea pipe jl l leading to the drain fon'c'arffying dfi' leakage. As seen in Fig. 6, a. pipe l?) may he. arranged hetween the supply 26 1 and the delizery i5 l'or lilling the reservoir 2 a l tei' the valve 12H has heen elosed. h'ueli pipe l5 may repla e the pipe 2T, or the same may he used as auxiliary thereto. and must he o!- similar great l'rietional resistanee in order to prevent a sudden reduetion ol' pressure on the diaphragm 23' when the reservoir 2 5 hegins to empty.

ltel'erring now to Fig. 8, herein is diselosed a modilied "orni of valve. releasing deviee. the easing hotly h' is onstrueted with upper and lo\ver eylinders lT and l8 ol' lllitipliil diameters l'or reeeiviiig pistons -l'. and fill. eorresponding to the diaphragms ll and 35 and eoniieeted t the eomm n lalrh plunger Ill The deviee is in other respe ts similar in eonstriu-tion aml operation to the devieein Fig. 7 and is provided with eonneetions similarly numhered. The operation ol' this l'oi'ni ol' the invention is as 'l ollou's: The eliain l is'pulled and the quadrant moved to open the valve '18 as will now he understood The reservoir 2 and upply eonneetion 2t) heing in a halaneed state, the presure on the diaphragms H and 215, or on the. pistons l!) and 5t), as the 'ease may he, will he equal; and as the diaphragm 55 is of relatively greater surl'aee area the pressure thereon \vill preponderate and l'orre the lateh plunger 36 down to engage the quadrant 29 and l(H'l'l the same against return movement. Alter the reservoir 2 has emptied or praetieally emptied the pressure will tall in the pipe H and the supply pressure remaining constant \vill thereupon raise the diaphragm I5] and hit the latch plunger ll; out of engagement with the quadrant 2 The valve is will then elose as ahove deseril-ied, and the pressure will huild up in the reservoir through either the pipes 27 or l5.

llaving speeial rel'erenee to Fig. 5), in the delivery pipe 2'5 is ineliided a \"enturi sew tion 5t eonneeted hy a pipe 52 with the upper end ol' a storage reeeptaele 53. The reeeptaele 5 is joined at its lower end to the delivery pipe- 25 hy a eiirved seetion Tel. This arrangement provides for lilling the reeeptiiele 51), while the reservoir 2 is disehargin as will he understood; and a l'ter the llushing operation the. reeeptaele 5 will empty slowly and lill the hovvl.

Still another arrangement l'or etl'eeting this same ohjeet is shown in Fig. hi, and eoniprises an annular reeeptaele stir rounding the delivery pipe :3 and eomniunieating therewith through upper and lower perforations ll and 3; At the liase ol" the reeeptaele, 60 the pipe 25 is termed with aeonstrieted iieel or nozzle 33. \vhieh cheeks the veloeity ol the Water and eauses same to flow in through the perl'orations 3; while air is expelled through the perforations (31.

After the diseh-arge has ceased in pipe :25,

,pipe, a eonneetion for operating said valve,

it is to he understood that the spriin 37 may he dispensed with in Figs. T and nut that. a valve releasing deviee may he eonsli'ileled ol' :1 eomhined diaphragm and piston in plaee ol' the eonstruetions there shown. ll is also within the eontemplation ol' the invention to eonst ruet the valve and releasing deviee in one pieee, and to make sin-h other ehanges as may he needed.

I rlaim:

1. in an apparatus ol' the eharaeter deserihed, the eonihiiiation of an inelosed reservoir in open eommunieation with a souree ol' lluid supply, a delivery pipe eonneeted to said reservoir, a self-closing valve eontrolling the outlet through said delivery pipe, a eonneetioii for operating said valve, a easing in eonstant eoinminiieation with said reservoir, a lateli slidahly mounted in said easing and disposed angularly with respeet to the path ol' said eonneetion, said lateli heiiig arranged to engage said eonneetion and prevent elosing ol' said valve, means mounted in said easing aiidaetuated hy the lluid pressure to normally project said lateh into engagement with said eonneetion, and means l'or moving said lateh to disengage said eonneetion and retreat out (it the path ol the same vherehy to permit the valve to immediately elose when the pressure l'alls helow a predetermiiied degree, siihstantially as deserihed.

2. in an apparatus of the eharaeter deserihed, the eonihination of an inelosed reservoirino-peneoniniunieatioii\vithasoiiree o'l fluid supply, a delivery pipe eonnerted to said reservoir. a sell'-elosing valve loeated in and eontrolliiig the outlet through said delivery pipe, an oseillatiug eonneetion l'oi' op erating said valve, a easing in eonstant eominunieation with said reservoir, a latch mounted to "et'i'l oeate in said easing and arranged to engage said connection and prevent closing of said valve, said late-h being disposed angularly with respect to the path of said eoiineetioii, means mounted in said easing and aetuated hy the lluid pressure to normally projeet said lateh into engagement with said eonneetion, and means independent of said sell elosing valve for moving said lateh to disengage said eonneetion and retreat out of the path of the same whereby.

to permit the valve to immediately close when the pressure l'alls below a predeten mined degree. suhstantially as (lCSCi'lbQtl.

3. In an apparatus of the character deseriheil, the eomhiiiation oli an inelosed reservoir in tiptll ,('(iliiliiHIilUfltlOll with a souree ot' lluid supply, a. delivery pipe leading from said reservoir, a sell-closing valve eontrolling the outlet through said delivery a norinally-projeeted lateh for engaging saidconnection and preventing the closing of said valve, and means connected to said latch and actuated by said reservoir and supply pressures to project said latch when the pressures are balanced and to retract said latch when the reservoir. pressure falls to disengage said connection and permit the valve to close, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an inclosed reservoir in open communication with a source of'fiuid supply, a delivery pipe leading from said reservoir, a self-closing valve controlling the outlet through said deliveryreservoir in open communication with a sourceof fluid supply, a delivery pipe leading from said reservoir, a self-closing valve controlling the outlet through said delivery pipe, a connection for operating said valve, a casing in communication with said reservoir and supply source, a latch mounted to reciprocate in said casing, and arranged to engage said connection to prevent the closmg of said valve, means located in sa d casmg and acted on by said reservoir and supply pressures to project said latch when the pressures'are balanced and to retract said latch when the reservoir pressure falls, to disengage said connection, a'storage receptacle associated with said delivery pipe, and connections between said pipe and receptacle whereby the latter will be filled during the flushing operation and subsequently slowly discharged, substantially as described.

(S. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an inclosed .reservoir in open connnunicaiton with a source of fluid supply, a delivery pipe leading from said reservoir, :1 self-closing valve controlling the outlet through said. delivery pipe, a connection for operating said valve, a casing constructed to provide -a pair of compartments in communication one with the reservoir and one with the supply source,

a latch mounted to reciprocate in said casing and extending into each of said compartments, said latch being arranged to engage' said connection and prevent the closing of said valve, and means located in each of ,said' compartments and connected to said latch, said means being actuated by said reservoir and supply pressures to project said latch when the pressures are balanced and to retract said latch \vhen the reservoir pressure falls to disengage said connection and permit the valve to close, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

I WADE BARNETT; \Vitnesses SAMUEL MANFEE,

FRANK KLnmscHMiD'r. 

